Robert Pires Wasn’t The Only Footballer To Retire Today

Robert Pires has today announced his retirement from football, despite the fact he hasn’t played since early 2015 and prior to those eight games for FC Goa, Pires last played in 2011 for Aston Villa.

Talking of Villa…

The Arsenal legend’s decision to hang up his boots, five years after he last played for a competitive outfit, has seen a few others come out today to announce that they will no longer be playing.

Pele

“At the age of 75, the time is right to bring down the curtain, some 39 years after I last played competitively.”

Ali Dia

“I’d like to thank Southampton for giving me the chance, because without them and Graeme Souness, I never would’ve been able to achieve the things I have done in the game.”

Robert Gardner

The first ever international football match took place in 1872 between Scotland and England, and the ‘keeper for the Scots, who sadly passed away in 1887, has also followed Pires’ lead and called time on his career today.

Source: The FA

Michael Ricketts

The former Bolton Wanderers today called a press conference, in which he turned up wearing nothing but his only England cap, to announce he was hanging up his boots. Ricketts went on to say that he was “delighted to have gone out at the top of the game with Tranmere Rovers” rather than sticking around for too long and “ultimately ruining” his legacy.

Source: Faded Footballers

Paul Scholes

Not one to miss out on a retirement party, the former Manchester United midfielder announced his retirement for a third time today. When asked why he’d taken the decision, Scholesy mumbled: “Just because”.

Jesus Christ

“I had a great career, with several highlights – who remembers that time I turned the opposition players into wine with one silky Cruyff turn? However, I’m not as young as I was in 29 AD, so it’s with great sadness, that I announce my retirement from the beautiful game.”